Discover new articles every week on the topics of regulatory affairs (including international approval and FDA approval), QM systems (e.g., ISO 13485), risk management (ISO 14971), software development (IEC 62304), IT security, clinical evaluation, usability engineering (IEC 62366-1), and systems engineering (including IEC 60601-1, ISO 10993) - also for IVD medical devices.
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The FDA MAUDE database provides information on the “Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience.” It thus corresponds roughly to the database used by the BfArM to publish manufacturer reports on risks. Content of the FDA MAUDE database The FDA MAUDE database contains information on Regulatory background Obligation to evaluate Manufacturers are obliged to conduct adequate…
DetailsIEC 60601-1 defines a PESS, a Programmable Electronic Subsystem, as a system based on one or more central processing units, including their software and interfaces. The standard does not reveal what it means by system; in this context, it is a medical device component. For this, IEC 60601-1 sets out specific requirements for the PESS.…
DetailsThe software architecture documentation primarily serves these objectives: Fast, effective, and plannable software development will succeed if the task (to develop software that meets the software requirements) is broken down into solvable subtasks, which can be distributed among many developers. The prerequisite for this is a precise (documentation of the) software architecture, which is unfortunately…
DetailsBlack box testing is when test cases are derived solely from the specification of the object to be tested (product, component). White box testing, on the other hand, derives the test cases from the internal structure of the object, e.g., from its source code or software architecture. Unfortunately, many medical device manufacturers neither specify the test…
DetailsMany people ask about the liability of individuals, management, and the company. After all, it is not only the Medical Devices Regulations that impose fines and imprisonment. The question of liability also arises for development service providers. Liability in Germany: Differentiating between criminal and civil law Civil law: Parties involved In civil law, the question…
DetailsFault Tree Analysis is a procedure used to search for unknown causes of known effects (in the case of medical devices, harms or hazards). It, therefore, counts as a top-down procedure in risk analysis. Fault Tree Analysis: Notation The name Fault Tree Analysis already clarifies how it is represented graphically: As a tree. Both mind…
DetailsThe FDA requires a Design History File DHF in 21 CFR Part 820 (these are the “Quality System Regulations”). DHF should not be confused with the Device History Record DHR or the Device Master Record DMR. This article explains what the Design History File must contain and how it differs from the other two “files.” Design History File The FDA requires…
DetailsA medical device can cause harm to patients, users, or third parties. The manufacturer must identify this harm to determine the device’s risks and control them. This article provides guidance on how to determine and document harm in accordance with ISO 14971 and how to use the term “harm” correctly. 1. Definition ISO 14971 defines…
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